Thread-tensioning device



1933- F. B. JAVERY ET AL THREAD TENSIONING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1951 M fi w JG WJQ F @J @J Q 4 fiman J'arery Patented Oct. 10, 1933 ;UN ITED s-TA THREAD-TENSIQN ING DEVICE. Frank B. Javery, Worcester, and Armon J J avery, Oxford, Mass, assignors to Warp Compressing Machine Company. Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts e e ,Ap i cation May 12, 1931. SerialNo. 534,560. 4 Claims. gc1.242- 147)* The present invention relates to thread tensioning devices of the type employing rotatable whirls, or pulleys, around which filamentary material or thread is drawn at high speed with the frictional-retardation of the whirls creating the desired amount of tension in the moving thread.

" The principal object'of-the invention is to pro-.

vide a thread tensioning device of the above indi Gated character which will operate satisfactorily at'extremely high speeds, without vibration, with the result that the pull: on the-filamentary material is always constant. Further objects are to provide a device which does not permit chafing of the moving material, by crossing, and which prevents the accumulation of lint or loose fibers.

In handling filamentarymaterial of a silky nature in which the fibers are very fine and fragile, as in the well known rayon thread, any vibration or uneven rotation of a whirl will subject the thread to jerks or strains which tend to pull apart or stretch the delicate fibers; and any such strains are substantially eliminated according to the present invention; In carrying out the invention, a pair of whirls preferably cylindrical in form are mounted to rotate freely about slightly converging axes, the filamentary material being wrapped around both whirls, and it has been foundthat this device may be operated at extremely high speeds, without vibration and without straining the thread. In' operation the turns of thread have a tendency to move toward the proximate ends of the whirls which prevents any crossing of the moving thread tendingto fray or break the material. This tendency-of the'threads to work towards the ends of the whirls also prevents excessive wear on any particularportion of the whirls; thereby lengthening the life of 'the device. Other and further advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a series of improved thread tensioning devices in use on a creel. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one of the tensioning devices shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device in Fig. 2, parts being broken away to show the construction thereof.

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, the whirls being removed from the spindles.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the whirls.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation, illus trating the lint clearing action of a whirl.

'plate 7 provides at one end a projecting portion Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view ofa spindle andwhirl assembly.

Like reference characters refer throughout the; drawing.

to like: parts Referringfirst to Fig. 1,;a series of thread controlling and tensioning devices l embodying the invention are mounted on a horizontally extending member 2 forming part of the frame Work of a creel or spool stand :of usual construction.

Separate-filaments or threads 3 areadapted to be" v drawn from a series ofpackages 4 corresponding in'number and spacing tothe tensioning devices 1', each thread passing through'a guide 5 mounted on the frame member 2. Each guide 5 is-symmetrically disposed with respect to a tensioning device 1, and 'after passing around a device 1 in a manner to be hereinafter described, each thread 3 passes through a second guide 6 disposed at right angles to; the guide 5. All of the guides 6 are insubstantial alinement so as to deliver-the threads 3 for winding on a suitable spool or warp beam, not shown, the several tensioning devices 1 serving to maintain a constant tension on the threads3 during the winding.

Each tensioning device 1, as best shown in Fig. 2,;comprises' a supporting 'guar'd'plate 7, preferably .of sheet metal, providing oppositely projecting ears 8 by which the plate is connected to' and supported between the frame member 2 and a bar 9 spaced from and extending parallel to the memher '2. The plate 'l'is further provided with a pair of'spaced circular openings 10, see Fig; 4, in'which are receivedthe lower portions of a pair of cylindrical whirls or drums 11, the openings 10 being of such diameter as to provide ample clearance for the drums 11, as shown in Fig. 7. A portion of the plate '7 surrounding each opening 10 is depressed below the plane of the plate to provide an arm 12 carrying a spindle 13 for rotatably supporting a drum l1, and as best shown in Fig. 4, 5 one arm 12 is bent downwardly with respect to the opposed arm, so that the axis of rotation of one whirl 11 is inclined with respect to the other whirl for a purposewhich will hereinafter appear. The

14 which is bent upwardly at right angles to the plane .of the plate, and provides an opening for receiving a thread guide 6 through which a thread j 3 is drawn after passing aroundthe whirls.

As best shown in Fig. 2, each whirl spindle 13 is preferably triangular in cross-section with its corners rounded to substantially correspond to the curvature of the cylindrical bore 11a of the whirl, each spindle 13 being secured to its supporting arm 12 by a screw 15. This particular construction of the spindles 13 forms no part of the present invention per se, as the construction is shown and described in our copending application, Serial No. 489,952, filed October 20, 1930. As fully set forth in our copending application, noted above, this particular type of spindle construction insures free rotation of the surrounding whirl 11 without substantial vibration, and the present invention contemplates an arrangement for tying the spindles 13 together in pairs to eliminate any possible vibration of their upper portions. To this end, a tubular washer 16, preferably composed of rubber, is mounted in a seat 17 provided in the upper end of each spindle 13 and a U-shaped connecting member 18 having its legs pressed into the washers 16 serves to secure the spindles 13 together. With this arrangement, any tendency for the spindles 13 to vibrate due to the rotation of the whirls at high speed, is effectively prevented by the cushioning action of the resilient washers -16. I g

Each Whirl 11 preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical drum portion having an enlarged head 19, the outer surface of the drum portion being covered'with a thin layer 20 of frictional material such as spongy rubber. The whirls 11 are mounted to rotate on the spindles 13 with the lower edges of the drums resting upon felt washers 21 which surround the lower ends of the spindles and are supported by the arms 12. It will be noted that the rubber covering 20 on each whirl 11 extends below theplane of the upper surface of the guard plate 7, so that if the rotation of the whirl ceases at any time, as by breakage of the thread, and the thread continues to run out and loosen on the whirls, the guard-plate 7 will supportthe loosened turns of the thread. It has been found that thread like rayon always tends" to run out following a stoppage so that when the operation is resumed, any loose turns of thread supported on the plate 7 automatically resume their correct position on the whirls.

In the construction shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a structure by which lint or short loose fibers of the filamentary material are prevented from wrapping around the whirls 11. The head 19 of each whirl 11 is provided with a pair of helical slots 22, extending through the head, the slots 22 being cut in such a direction that adownward draft will be created over the cylindrical drum of the whirl as it rotates. This downward draft passes over the portion of the whirl on which the thread runs, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6, so that lint or other material carried by the thread is blown away from the whirl surface.

In the operation of a tensioning device 1, the

thread 3 as drawn from a yarn package 4 through a thread guide 5, which is positioned adjacent the lower end of the spindles and above the guard 7, passes ontothe right hand whirl 11 and-is then wound around both whirls 11 a plurality of times, as shown in Fig. 3. The number of turns taken around the whirls depends upon the clinging effect of the material and the strength thereof, and it should be noted that the second thread guide 6 is disposed above the first guide 5 in the direction of convergence of the spindle to compensate 'for the climbing action of the moving thread, due to the convergence of the spindle axes. As the whirls rotate at high speed, the friction between the whirls and spindles and be- ;tween the whirls and felt washers 21 provides sufiicient retardation to maintain a substantially constantand even tension on the thread as it leaves the whirls. Furthermore, as the thread tends to climb on the inclined whirl the several turns are spaced apart, without crossing, thereby preventing any chafing and distributing the wear on the drum coverings 20.

We claim,

1. In a thread tensioning device, a pair of cylindrical drums freelyrotatable about converging axes, said drums providing smooth outer surfaces, means for leading filamentary material to said drums, and, other means for leading the filamentary material from said drums, said latter means being spaced from said first means axially of said drums in the direction of convergence of the axes of said drums, whereby turns of the material passing around said drums are separated.

'2. In a thread tensioning. device, a pair of spindles mounted in convergent relation, a pair of cylindrical drums mounted for free rotation on said spindles, and yielding means connecting the upper ends of said spindles and supporting said ends in spaced relation.

3. In a thread tensioning device, a cylindrical rotatable drum'having a head adjacentone end thereof, with said head projecting beyond the surface of said drum, said head providing a substantially helical slot extending inwardly from the periphery of said head to create a draft over the cylindrical surface as the drum rotates.

i. In a thread tensioning device, arpair of cooperating cylindrical drums rotatable about substantially vertical axes and a guard surrounding said drums adjacent to and above the lower ends of said drums, said guard serving to prevent filamentary material passing around said drums from dropping away when in a slack condition.

-- FRANK B. JAVERY. ARMON J. JAVERY. 

